Contact: Tom McMahon, tmcmahon@auvsi.org, (571) 255-7786
 
 

ARLINGTON, Va. – Brian Wynne, president and CEO of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), issued the following statement on the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) provisions in the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2018 (H.R. 302), which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives today by a vote of 398 to 23:
 

"We are very pleased that the House of Representatives passed the FAA bill, which will help expand the commercialization of UAS technology and ensure that UAS are integrated into the national airspace in a manner that is safe for all aircraft – both manned and unmanned.
 

“The bill calls for rulemaking on a UAS Traffic Management (UTM) system, which will help ensure the safe and efficient use of the national airspace and enable expanded UAS operations, such as beyond visual line of sight. There are also provisions for rules concerning carriage of property, a necessary step for allowing UAS package deliveries. The bill additionally grants DHS and DOJ the authority to mitigate potentially malicious UAS operations, addressing security concerns, as well as provisions to implement remote identification standards.
 

“Additionally, we applaud the bill’s commitment to UAS safety awareness through its appropriation of $1 million every year from 2019 to 2023 for education campaigns such as Know Before Your Fly, an initiative AUVSI co-founded with the FAA and the Academy of Model Aeronautics. By amplifying education efforts, we can continue to ensure that UAS technology is adopted safely and responsibly.
 

“The passage of a multi-year authorization bill will help achieve long-term stability for the FAA and the entire aviation community, and we are hopeful that the Senate can vote soon and that a final bill can be sent to the President to sign.”
 

AUVSI prepared a summary of each UAS-related section in the bill, which can be found here.
 
 

About AUVSI
The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) — the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of unmanned systems and robotics — represents corporations and professionals from more than 60 countries involved in industry, government and academia. AUVSI members work in the defense, civil and commercial markets. For more information, visit AUVSI.org.